The Bionic Tigers have now qualified for two state competitions
Loveland High School’s FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 10464, The Bionic Tigers, competed at the Mountain Qualifier that took place in the scenic mountains of Western Maryland. On January 11, 25 teams from Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia came together to compete for three advancements spots to the Maryland/D.C. FIRST Tech Challenge Championship.
Loveland High School’s FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Team 10464, The Bionic Tigers, competed in the mountains of Western Maryland over the weekend, qualifying them for the second state competition this season. The team will be competing in the Maryland/D.C. Championship on March 1 and the Ohio FTC Championship on March 14.
To start the day, The Bionic Tigers presented to the judges about their community outreach, involvement with industry professionals, programming, robot design, and other related topics for evaluation for awards. They then competed in five qualifying matches—going undefeated—overall being ranked second place. As a result of being ranked second, 10464 got to pick two teams to join them for elimination rounds, and chose one team from West Virginia and one from Maryland.
To close out the exciting day, the awards ceremony took place. The Bionic Tigers were nominated for or won five out of seven awards: 3rd Think, 2nd Connect, 2nd Innovate, 2nd Motivate, and 1st Inspire. Due to winning the highly coveted Inspire award, The Bionic Tigers were one of three teams to receive an advancement invitation to the Maryland/D.C. FIRST Tech Challenge Championship taking place on March 1. The Bionic Tigers have now qualified for two state competitions: the Maryland/D.C. FTC Championship on March 1 and the Ohio FTC Championship on March 14.
“Loveland FTC Lego Team Striped Might, their coaches Anna Macura and Jay Frazier, and mentors Joanna Reese, Brayden Watts, and Ally Oh, created candy bags – including special robot candy – for the LPD’s efforts to make Halloween in Loveland inclusive of all, especially those who are restricted by disabilities. Inclusion is a core value of the FIRST Robotics program.”
During his hour-long visit with Striped Might, Lt. Szpak took the opportunity to demonstrate the technology he uses on the job.
Loveland, Ohio – On Halloween, the Loveland Police Department (LPD) took candy to the homes of children and adults in the Loveland community who were unable to trick-or-treat due to a disability. It was part of the LPD’s effort to include those who otherwise would not be able to participate and make Halloween special for them, too. Loveland Middle School FIRSTLego Robotics team “Striped Might” met with Lieutenant Mike Szpak last Sunday evening to share their supply of candy and gifts to be distributed. Striped Might is a rookie team with rookie coaches – Anna Macura and Jay Frazier – rising up to the challenge of FIRSTRobotics.
Grant, one of more than a hundred students in grades 2-12 involved in robotics at Loveland Schools, showed his work to Lt. Szpak.
“Robotics is not just about the BOT,” said Joanna Reese. “Inclusion is a core value of the robotics program and this is a wonderful way for us to share that with our community.” Reese is a member of the Bionic Tigers, one of two FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics teams at Loveland High School, and serves as a mentor for the younger members of Striped Might.
Lt. Szpak spent about an hour with the team members during their Sunday practice at Loveland Middle School. At the end of the visit, the team was invited to help deliver any Halloween leftover candy to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.
Loveland, OH– Loveland Robotics Team 5040 has found success this season, leading them to compete against teams from over sixty different countries at FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) worlds. Loveland will compete against 120 teams with an average of ten players per team. The competition in Detroit, Michigan is a result of three local tournaments and a state championship where the team was chosen to advance.
The team has been preparing since September, The team meets three nights a week, and individuals often meet outside of officially scheduled robotics meetings. The team has been perfecting their robot for eight months and their hard work will pay off in the attendance of the World Competition from April 24th-28th.
Loveland Robotics Team 5040 Back Row: Jackson Daumeyer, Ben Kavouras, Bryce Reinhold, Garrett Royal, Jacob Chiarenzelli, Matthew Spitzley, Nate Matuszak, Kat Sanderson Front Row: Kai Reinhold, Haley Dues, Stephanie Spitzley, Cooper Baumgarth
“This competition gives us the opportunity to interact with the next generation of STEM professionals while providing a unique challenge to help us grow in all aspects from building a robot to communication skills,” Senior, Garrett Royal explained.
Team 5040 prepares to test new changes to their robot
FTC Robotics is an organization backed by tech and STEM companies that challenge 7-12th-grade students to design, build, program and operate robots in order to overcome a specific obstacle. The program aims to help teach students about the growing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and encourage improvement in communication, problem-solving and leadership. While building robots is at the core of the program, students must also fight for sponsorships and coordinate money management.
There are roughly forty students in the Loveland Robotics program, and 12 on team 5040. Within 5040, there are subteams focused on building, programming and business. Each subteam has a leader who keeps their group on-task and moving forward. The teams are overseen by Loveland engineering teacher, Ms. Amy Stewart.
The robotics team meets on a Sunday afternoon to improve and plan
The mechanical guts of team 5040’s 2018 build
Each year in September, a new FTC challenge, or “game”, is announced. This year, teams compete in a game called Relic Recover. The teams are challenged to stack cubes called Glyphs into a 3×4 “Cryptobox”. Specific patterns allow teams to earn more points. Additionally, there is a plastic figure known as a “relic” that the robot is programmed to pick up and move over a wall in order to increase points. The goal is to move the relic as far as possible.
“We do a lot of drive practice. We run match after match, trying to get faster and more consistent at each element of the game. This has helped us learn how to manage problems and what to expect during actual competition. Our drivers have been able to master their controls, which is something a lot of other teams do not have as much practice in,” Senior, Haley Dues explained.
Team 5040 practices building a Cryptobox. Different brown/white patterns are placed into the vertical 3×4 box for varying points.
Last year, the two robotics teams also found success– Team 10464 competed in the State Tournament for the second straight year, and Team 5040 traveled to the World Championship marking the first time in Loveland history a team has competed on the world level.
An arm extends a piece of the challenge over the arena wall
Although the prize for winning worlds is just a trophy (and bragging rights), the team sees it as an exciting opportunity.
“Every robot has something unique about it and it’s fun to talk to people who are just as nerdy about robots as you,” Bryce Reinhold explained in regards to the Worlds competition.
Application packets for the Loveland robotics team can be picked up by interested high schools students from Ms. Stewart in room 128 and are due April 20th.
Jarvis Global is an investment advisory firm in Symmes Township, Ohio which offers private portfolio management and retirement services to high net worth individuals.
5040 Team Members (Back row, L to R) Kat Sanderson, Bryce Reinhold, Nate Matuszak, Ben Kavouras, Jacob Chiarenzelli, Jackson Daumeyer, Kai Reinhold; (Front row, L to R)Matt Spitzley, Haley Dues, Garret Royal, Stephanie Spitzley and Cooper Baumgarth
Loveland students beat the seventh-ranked team in the world to take title
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland High School (LHS) FIRST Robotics Team 5040, Nuts and Bolts, earned the title of Winning Alliance Captain at the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Ohio State Championship on February 17, at iSpace in Sharonville on the Scarlet Oaks Campus.
Loveland Team 5040 beat the seventh-ranked team in the world in both the qualifying matches and finals. Team 5040 also won second place in Promote Award. The team will compete in North Super Regionals in Iowa against 72 other teams that have qualified through 13 states.
“On behalf of the students, we want to give a huge thank you to our sponsors, along with our volunteer coaches and mentors – without this support we could not do what we do!” said LHS Teacher and Robotics Coordinator Amy Stewart.
Sponsors include: Adobe, American Legion, Blue Chip, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Honeywell Intelligrated, Johnson Controls, MH Equipment, Jarvis Global Investments, Chipotle, Paula Berryman Photography, Basco and The Hershey Company.
(Top Row, L to R) Nate Matuszak, Matt Spitzley, Bryce Reinhold, Brayden Watts, Mitchell McManis, Emily Kiehl, Nick Rasmussen, Jacob Chiarenzelli, and Jackson Daumeyer; (Second Row, L to R) Stephanie Spitzley, Kai Reinhold, Kat Sanderson, Lauren Timmins, Zoe Long, Evan Berryman, Haley Dues, Cooper Baumgarth, Ben Kavouras; (Bottom Row) Garrett Royal and Nathan Stewart (Photo Credit: Paula Berryman)
Teams 5040 and 10464 to compete February 17
remain undefeated in Ohio!
Both Loveland High School (LHS) First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics teams – 5040 and 10464 – are headed to the state robotics competition! Both teams competed Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Cincinnati Qualifying Tournament at Walnut Hills High School. After competing in 26 matches in three qualifying tournaments, LHS Team 5040 remains undefeated in Ohio! Additionally, LHS Team 5040 and Team 10030, 7 Sigma, from Cincinnati scored the third highest score in the world!
I am so proud of the teams, and expect a strong showing at the state competition
“These accolades are a result of the hard work and dedication of the student team members and mentors; the program has evolved and expanded to meet the needs of our students,” said LHS Teacher and Robotics Coordinator Amy Stewart. “I am so proud of the teams, and expect a strong showing at the state competition!”
“I think it is also important to say thank you to our sponsors. The robotics program would not be possible without the generous donations our teams receive from Adobe, American Legion, Blue Chip, Fraternal Order of the Eagles, Intelligrated, Johnson Controls, MH Equipment, Jarvis Global Investments, Chipotle, Paula Berryman Photography, Basco, and The Hershey Company.”
5040 received the following awards:
Design, Innovate and Think Award Finalist
Winner of Inspire Award and Winning Alliance
10464received the following awards:
Motivate, Control and Connect Award Finalist
Winner of Think Award and Finalist Alliance
Both teams compete at the FTC Robotics State event February 17, 2018, at iSpace in Sharonville on the Scarlet Oaks Campus.
Watch this video where the students talk about the program at Loveland High School and how they compete.
LHS Robotics Team 5040 at a successful competition in Dayton Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017.
Team 5040 & Team 10464 to compete at FTC tournament in February
State bound!
LHS Robotics Team 10464 ready to advance to state from the Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, competition in Newark.
Loveland High School’s (LHS) First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics teams had exceptional performances Saturday, Dec. 9, at two separate competitions; both will advance to the FTC Robotics State Tournament in February.
“I’m thrilled for our students,” said LHS Project Lead the Way Teacher and Robotics Advisor Amy Stewart. “Loveland’s two FTC Robotics teams started the Ohio season strong. Both 5040 and 10464 won multiple awards – they deserve to advance to the state tournament, and we are all proud of what they have achieved.”
LHS Robotics Team 5040 competed in Dayton, serving as the captain of the Winning Alliance, which secured the team’s advancement to the state tournament. They also won the First Place Design Award and Second Place Control Award.
LHS Robotics Team 10464 competed in Newark, winning the Second Place Promote Award, Second Place Control Award, Third Place Innovate Award, Second Place Connect Award, and Second Place Think Award. Team 10464 also won the coveted First Place Inspire Award which earned them advancement to the state tournament.
5040 Team Members (Back row, L to R) Kat Sanderson, Bryce Reinhold, Nate Matuszak, Ben Kavouras, Jacob Chiarenzelli, Jackson Daumeyer, Kai Reinhold; (Front row, L to R)Matt Spitzley, Haley Dues, Garret Royal, Stephanie Spitzley and Cooper Baumgarth
Loveland Team 5040 beat the seventh-ranked team in the world in both the qualifying matches and finals. Team 5040 also won second place in Promote Award. The team will compete in North Super Regionals in Iowa against 72 other teams that have qualified through 13 states.
